NCJ Number
78344
Date Published
1979
Length
272 pages
Annotation
This handbook, which is No. 2 in the series of Police Promotion Handbooks, presents summaries of the information that part of the British syllabus for the police promotion examinations which relates to evidence and procedure.
Abstract
The general topics treated are evidence the criminal courts, pretrial procedure, summonses and warrants, arrest without warrant, suspects and prisoners, taking statements and making reports, court procedure, consequences of conviction, and evidence and procedure relating to young persons. Included in the chapter on evidence are discussions of judicial notice, legal presumption, kinds of evidence, witnesses, corroborative evidence, and burden of proof. In addition to describing the activities of each type of court, the chapter considers juveniles in adult courts and the powers of a justice's clerk. Subjects considered under pretrial procedures include securing the attendance of parties, the recording of evidence, notification of alibi, and coroners and inquests. The discussion of arrest without warrant deals with the decisions about whether to arrest, the powers of arrest at common law, and power to arrest without warrant by statute. The chapter on suspects and prisoners treats identification of suspects, the judges' rules, mode of arrest and handling of prisoners, search of suspects and prisoners, charging of prisoners, and prisoners' rights. The concluding chapter contains discussions of such additional subjects as documentary evidence, venue, appeals, extradition, and writs. Relevant legislation is appended, and an index is provided.